Jamie Oliver's 'jerk rice'

[PPPMA]

Jamie Oliver has been accused of cultural appropriation for calling a new product "punchy jerk rice".
The decision to label the microwavable rice "jerk" has been criticised, because the product doesn't contain many of the ingredients traditionally used in a Jamaican jerk marinade.

What we think of this?! As someone of Caribbean descent, who loves jerk, and raised an eyebrow when I looked at the ingredients, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow... not offended, just baffled!

AIBU to think that if you create something new, you call it something new...?

glintandglide
How am I being obtuse, I am being very clear, its not cultural appropriation, it normal for anyone and everyone to sell food from anywhere in the world. And its normal to sell food that is not connected to its name. So just because Jerk rice has no 'Jerk' in it is not in and of itself unusual.

I have no problem with posters saying it tastes crap, or that its not 'authentic', but he has a right to sell it.

Mockery. Cute.

I don't know how representative Mumsnet is of the wider population, but when communities say 'we are not being listened to' I'm going to think of you lot.

I see no one has yet explained why 'Jerk' food is a special case yet.

Why don't you ask the news bulletins that invited Levi Roots and Rustie Lee etc into the studio to comment?

Levi didn't seem that bothered about it anyway.

Jerk isn't na special case anyway, but you've chosen to ignore all the other examples of where people have said that certain recipes are not true to their origins.

You're the one who's making Jerk a special case by refusing to allow people to have an opinion on it.

The Cornish pasty has protected itself against imitation...so why can't people be protective over Jerk???
www.cornishpastyassociation.co.uk/about-the-pasty/

The Cornish pasty has protected itself against imitation...so why can't people be protective over Jerk People could get legal protections for it, either they tried and failed or they haven't tried.

It’s the association with Cornwall as opposed to the generic name pasty that’s protected I.e you can call it a pasty, you can’t call it a Cornish pasty unless it meets certain spec I.e made in Cornwall.

Haven’t RTFT yet but to walkingdeadfangirl post at 14:18, you clearly don’t realise that the dish Bombay Duck isn’t meant to have duck in it, it’s a fish dish. Similarly Welsh Rabbit isn’t meant to contain rabbit, it’s a cheese dish. If you’re going to spend time arguing on the internet, check your facts first.

Botanic. Think that was the point of the post? I.e lots of food is sold with a name that doesn’t necessarily represent its ingredients...

Dorsetdays I should have been clearer, both those dishes are not meant to contain those ingredients or have any association with them anyway. So they’re incorrect examples to use against the others listed. JO “jerk” rice bearing no relation to jerk seasoning or the jerk method doesn’t sound like it’s meant in the same way as Bombay Duck (which would be laughable if anyone truly expected it to contain duck as it’s a well known fish dish)? Or is it?

Yes, we all know they’re not meant to contain those items and, as said before, I think that’s exactly what the PP was saying. They’re just examples of food items being called a certain name that doesn’t necessarily indicate the ingredients (like jerk rice that doesn’t contain all the specific ingredients of jerk seasoning).

If I’m honest it just came across as a bit rude to say someone should check their facts before spending time arguing on the internet when it seems you missed the point behind the post because you hadn’t spent time RTFT.

I misread your title and thought you wanted to discuss Jamie Oliver's "jerk FACE"

I was all ready to chime in.

I need sleep.

You’re completely misunderstanding the point I’m making.

JO “punchy jerk rice” is supposedly a nod to Caribbean cuisine and culture. The fact it contains neither the right spices or method is what has caused this furore. If JO had marketed it like Bombay Duck then that’s different, it was never meant to emulate the food of another culture.

By PP citing Bombay Duck and Welsh Rabbit - both dishes which are DELIBERATELY not meant to contain those items anyway means it’s a pointless comparison to make.

I don’t think by not RTFT I’ve missed the point of that particular post at all, nor was I rude.

In which we’ll have to agree to disagree as we see the PP differently...horses for courses.

However, I do think it’s rude when you haven’t bothered to RTFT so will have missed lots of the previous posts.

Realistically, much of what is served in "Chinese" restaurants in the west is not actually Chinese food - they are Western interpretations or complete inventions.

I don't see this degree of "outrage" over them.

I honestly don't grasp why people are upset about the rice, either... but perhaps I am just naive.

Spotted dick does not contain dicks... thankfully.

A certain supermarket has made some nibbles that are a version of a very popular Persian dish (kookoo - a squidgy yummy herb omelette that is usually served as a side dish with salmon and rice).

Now they've called it 'Kuku Sabzi Herb Frittata' and added some weird stuff - red peppers, cheddar cheese (why ????) and not put in some nice bits (zeresh) that some people add but would maybe be too bitter. It's also completely the wrong colour - pale yellow and not green.

I haven't tasted it as it doesn't look like it will have the right flavour or texture.

I've pointed it out to people, we've agreed that it's been adjusted to the British taste and to make it more popular/sellable - but no one has got upset or angry about it, or written letters of complaint or taken to social media in distress. You could argue that Persia was royally dumped on by Western oil companies grasping for oil and various governments causing havoc by meddling in matters of state. It's really not a political, cultural or social thing - it's just food, it's business, it's all just nonsense at the end of the day.

I like to see cooks using sumac - it's a great flavouring - but traditionally you just sprinkle it on your meat and I'm seeing it all over the place now.

I think it's great that people are open to other tastes and are creative with them.

I still think silly Jamie got name wrong. Everyone knows what Jerk is for goodness sake!

Rebel - that would definitely appeal to an entirely different market.

Good for him thinking that this is actually jerk rice

And sabzi is green vegetables/herb. So it's a herb herb fritatta (or omelette).

AsAProfessionalFekko Similarly there's lots of pastes and 'ready-made' spices called 'Caribbean spice' or 'African spice' you can buy from all the popular supermarkets. No-one takes issue with them. It is not the point here. Neither is it a competition over who gets the right to feel most aggrieved over Western domination/meddling in their history. That isn't the point. I agree with what you have said on the surface level of it but you have missed the point.

EU rules on this type of thing are really interesting!

But only apply to products, not dishes.

No such thing as jerk rice . You have jerk meat or fish, and that's it. He can't even get cultural appropriation right.

OP take a look/listen at Judi Love trying to order jerk rice from a JA takeaway 😂

"Jerk egg!?" I'm dead

Chefs are allowed to experiment and evolve recipes and food. Maybe hundreds of years ago 'Jerk' food was a specific thing. Does that mean it has to stay that specific thing for all of eternity? How boring.

I read that Jamie has said he used the word 'Jerk' for his rice because that style of food inspired his dish. Maybe it will take off maybe it wont. That is exactly what has happened to Chinese and Indian styles of food.

It seems silly to keep a whole style of food stuck in the past.